Switch device for overhead tracks.



H. c. RASSMANN.

SWITCH DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1912.

l NVENTOR ./f Attorney Patented Jam?, 1913.

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HUG-0 C. RASSMANN, BEAVER`DAM, WISCONSIN.

SWITCH :DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 12, 1912. Serial No. 731,010.

. Patented Jan. 7,1913.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO C. RAssMANN, of Beaver Dam, in the count-y of Dodge and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Devices for Overhead Tracks;r and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements inV switch devices for overhead tracks,-the object of the invention being to provide simple and etlicient means for operating the pivoted switch rail and for locking and unlocking the same.

With this object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of c011- struction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a switch and operating means therefor, embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

1 represents a fixed track rail supported by suitable hangers such as indicated at 2, and 8-4 are divergent fixed rails supported by stationary hangers 5 5. Between the rail 1 and the rails 8 4, a switch rail 6 is located, said switch rail being hinged or piv* otally connected to the rail l as shown at 7 and adapted to be made to aline with one or the other of the divergent rails 3-4.

In order to lock the pivoted switch rail in alinement with either of the divergent rails, a locking block 8 is provided. This block is made of channeled form approximately U-shaped in cross section and embraces the free end portion of the switch rail, to which latter it is pivotally connected, as shown at 9. The locking block 8 projects beyond the free end of the switch rail so as to embrace the free end portion of one or the other of the divergent rails when the switch rail is in alinement therewith.

The switch rail 6 is supported by a movable hanger 10 which depends from a segmental bar 11 movably mounted in guides 12 secured to an overhead beam or support 18, to which latter the fixed hangers 2 and 5 are also secured.

A pulley 14 is located adjacent to each guide 12 and two pulleys 15 are located at or near the upper end of the hanger 10, for

the accommodation of cords l6-17. One end of each cord is attached to the free end of an arm 18 projecting from and made rigid with the locking block 8, and from Atheir connection with said arm, the cords pass over the pulleys 15 and then laterally in opposite directions and over the pulleys 14, the free ends of said cords depending below the traclzway and provided at their lower ends with handles 19 within convenient reach of an operator.

A spring 20 is attached at one end to the arm 18 of locking block 8 and at the other end `to the lower portion of the hanger 10, said spring normally acting to elevate said locking block and retaining it in embracing engagement with one of the divergent rails.

In order to shift the pivoted switch rail from one divergent rail to the other, the operator will first pull upon the cords 16-17 until the locking block shall have been tiltedV suliiciently to move it below the plane of or out of line with the bottom of the divergent rail (the rail 3 for example), and he will then apply greater pulling force to one of the cords (for instance, the cord 16) than to the other cord. This will cause the switch and its hanger to move laterally and the curved bar 11 to travel through the guides 12, until the switch rail has been sufliciently shifted to aline with the other divergent rail. When this shifting of the switch rail shall have been accomplished, the operator will release the cords, and the spring 20 will operate to tilt the locking block and cause it to move into embracing engagement with the divergent rail and securely lock it against displacement.

My improvements aiford simple, "cheap and efficient means for manipulating the rail of an overhead switch, and maintain the switch rail rigid when set in any position to which it is shiftable.

Having fully'described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In an overhead switch, the combination with a plurality of rail terminals, and a switch rail pivotally connected to one of said rail terminals, of a channeled locking block pivoted to the switch rail and projecting beyond the free end of the same, means for actuating said channeled block to cause it to embrace the terminal portion of any one of the other rails, and means connected with said locking block and operable to disengage it from one rail terminal and then move the switch rail to another rail terminal.

2. In an'overhead switch, the combination with a plurality of rail terminals, and a switch rail pivotally connected with one rail terminal, of a hanger movable with the switch rail, a channeled locking block pivoted to said switch rail and adapted to embrace any one of the other rail terminals, an arm projectingy from Said locking block, a spring connected with said arm for raising the locking block, and devices connected with said arm for lowering the locking block and Y yfor shifting the switch rail.

3. In an overhead switch, the combination with a plurality of rail f terminals, and a switch rail pivotally connected with one of said rail terminals, of a movable segmental bar, fixed supports for said bar, a hanger depending from said bar and connected with the switch rail, a channeled lockingv block pivotally attached to the switch rail and adapted to embrace any one of the free track terminals, an arm projecting from the pivoted end of said block, a spring for depressing said arm to raise the locking block, pulleys at or near the upper end of said hanger, pulleys at or near'the fixed supports of the movable segmental bar, and cords passing over said pulleys and connectedl with the arm of the locking block. Y Y Y In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: l p

K. MGCUNE, y E. J. LAWRENCE.

. Gop'ies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing vthe Commissioner of Patents, Y

Washington,y C.

HUGO C. RASSMANN. 

